It started as anan online initiative, a global social media wine tasting, in California with Napa valley winery St Supery.

With 84% of wine exported from New Zealand being Sauvignon Blanc, undertstandably New Zealand Winegrowers is keen to promote the celebration.

New Zealand Winegrowers is working in collaboration with St Supery to generate a live panel discussion and tasting of the different styles of Sauvignon Blanc from 1-2pm Pacific Standard Time.

Panellists include US wine journalists, wine retailers and winemakers. Flying the flag for New Zealand will be Bob Campbell MW, who will be tweeting at the online tasting. The panel discussion will be broadcast online live at http://toutsuite.com. There is also a Twitter conversation, using the "hashtag" #SauvBlanc.

"A huge number of wine consumers are active on social media and events such as Sauvignon Blanc Day provide great opportunities to raise awareness of New Zealand wine globally," said New Zealand Winegrowers’ communications manager Sarah Thornton.

Two out of three bottles of Sauvignon Blanc purchased in Australia is from New Zealand and the kiwis have a 22% share of the US Sauvignon Blanc market. Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular white variety in the UK off-trade and New Zealand holds a 49% share of the UK's Sauvignon Blanc market.